News Roundup: Here's What You Missed 2/21/2017
By Brody Salazar
@Brody_Salazar
1. Milo Yiannopoulos Resigns From Breitbart News:
Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor for Breitbart and a professional provocateur, resigned after controversy involving the release of a video containing comments on pedophilia. "Pedophilia is not a sexual attraction to somebody 13 years old who is sexually mature. It is an attraction to children who have not yet reached puberty," Yiannopoulos said. He defended himself by saying the video was edited in an unfavorable way, and that he did not choose the best language to express himself. He claims that he was speaking of when he lost his virginity at 13. Yiannopoulos left stating that Breitbart had always been there for him and that his resigning was for the good of the company.
- Source: CNN
2. H. R. McMaster Chosen as Replacement For National Security Adviser:
On Monday, President Trump selected Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster to fill the position in the White House following the resignation Michael Flynn. General McMaster first gained attention when he criticized the performance of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Vietnam War and when he later spoke out against the Bush administration's conduct of the Iraq War. McMaster is also credited with helping to prevent defeat in the Iraq War while he was still a commander.
- Source: The New York Times
3. Court Blocks Release of List of 300 Deputy Records:
The L.A. County Sheriff's Department compiled a list of 300 deputies with a history of misconduct such as domestic violence, theft, bribery and brutality. Sheriff Jim McDonnell wishes to give the list to prosecutors so they might be added to a database of problem officers. However, this has sparked a debate about whether or not it is a violation of privacy. The union representing rank-and-file deputies claims that the disclosure of the list would violate state laws protecting personnel files, and would cause criticism over events that could have occurred long before this. An appeals court sided with the union despite several police departments in California already taking part in the practice.
- Source: The Los Angeles Times
4. Study Finds Decrease in Suicides with Legalization of Gay Marriage:
Attempted suicide affects around 6 percent of straight teenagers, but that number rises significantly when looking at gay, lesbian and bisexual teens. When looking at a second set of teenagers it rises to 29 percent. A recent study by JAMA Pediatrics involving over 700,000 public school students were surveyed between the years 1999 and 2015 for risky behavior involving suicide attempts, smoking and alcohol or drug use. The study found after the legalization of same sex marriage suicide attempts fell by 7 percent among all students, and 14 percent among gay students.
- Source: The Associated Press (AP)
5. Vandalism in Jewish Cemetery:
At the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery in University City, Mo., 100 headstones had been damaged. There are no leads as to who committed the vandalism or why. This comes after bomb threats had been placed at 11 Jewish Community Centers on Monday. According to Karen Aroesty, of the Anti-Defamation League, tension in the Jewish community is high at the moment.
- Source: CNN